Let’s talk about Ian Anderson. Remember him? The guy who stepped onto the biggest stage in baseball back in 2021 and delivered ice-cold performances for the Atlanta Braves?
Yeah, the same Ian Anderson that tossed up a 1.59 ERA in the postseason and played a major role in bringing a World Series championship to Atlanta.
Fast forward to 2024, and he’s on a mission. He wants to get back to the majors and prove that he belongs in the Braves’ rotation for good.
A Braves Career at a Crossroads
Anderson is grinding it out in North Port, getting his work in at Spring Training. Videos are circulating—courtesy of Grant McAuley from 92.9 The Game—of Anderson back on the mound, looking determined, looking sharp.
But make no mistake, this is more than just another spring for him. This is a career-defining moment. Here’s the situation: Anderson is out of minor-league options.
That means if he doesn’t make the Braves’ Opening Day roster in some capacity, the team would have to designate him for assignment.
And once that happens, there’s no guarantee he stays in Atlanta. Another team could snatch him up in a heartbeat.
So, at the very least, he’s gunning for a bullpen role. But the real opportunity? That fifth spot in the rotation.
A Golden Opportunity with Strider Sidelined
With Spencer Strider on the shelf to start the season, a door has cracked open for Anderson. He’s got a shot to break camp with the big league club, something he hasn’t done since 2022.
But it won’t be handed to him—he’ll have to prove he deserves it over guys like Grant Holmes. And Anderson knows it.
“I know my situation,” he told MLB.com. “Now, it’s just about going out and doing it.”
That’s the right mindset because this is his moment. Just a few years ago, he looked like a fixture in the Braves’ rotation. Through his first 30 MLB starts, he posted a solid 3.25 ERA with 165 strikeouts in 160 2/3 innings.
Then came the struggles. Inconsistency landed him in Triple-A by late 2022, and just as he was working to get back, Tommy John surgery wiped out his 2023 season. A long road back, but here he is. Healthy. Hungry. Ready.
Can Anderson Recapture His 2021 Form?
The Braves left him off their playoff roster last year, instead rolling with AJ Smith-Shawver.
In hindsight, that was probably a signal to get right and fully healthy, and then we’ll see what happens.
Well, the time for “seeing what happens” is now. Anderson has worked too hard and been through too much to let this opportunity slip.
If he can recapture even a glimpse of what made him so electric in 2021, it’ll be worth the wait—for him and for the Braves.
